Two Dozen (or so) Orthodox Arguments Against Hyper-Preterism
"This paper, whose title is roughly based off Alvin Plantinga's paper"Two Dozen (or so) Theistic Arguments", will constitute two dozen (or so) arguments against Hyper-Preterism. Before I begin I should, for those unfamiliar with this cult, briefly explain what Hyper-Preterism is and what it teaches.
Hyper-Preterism[1] is the position that all eschatological prophecy has been fulfilled. This means that the resurrection has occurred, we are living in the new heavens and earth, we have been definitively sanctified, we have been glorified, Jesus has returned in 70 AD, once and for all.[2]
Based on the above we can see that Hyper-Preterism (HP, hereafter) deviates from historic Christianity in major ways. In his "Introduction to Preterism" Tod Dennis writes: "Simply put, Preterist theology is a radical departure from other contemporary positions. How many other systems teach that the Second Coming of Christ already took place? None" (Dennis, "An Introduction To Preterism," p. 1, emphasis his). Now, since Preterist theology is a radical departure from historic Christianity (not merely "contemporary," either!) can they even be called Christians? Well, I suppose that just as the Mormons call themselves "Christians" the Hyper-Preterists can do the same. Indeed, this is why many refer to this group as a Christian cult or heresy. Furthermore, I assume that Dennis thinks he's in line with "biblical Christianity?" Since his view is a radical departure from ours then ours must be a radical departure from "biblical Christianity!" This would mean what the world has referred to as "Christian theology" for the past 2,000 years has not really been Christian theology. Indeed, this is not like some minor dispute between denominations but it's a radical departure. This a bold claim since it is claiming that what has been referred to as "Christianity," by Christians and non-Christians alike, is not Christianity but a radical departure from it."
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